It's still taking Xingchen some time to really grow used to being in Zichen's presence again, to hear his voice and know he's right there. After their separate traumas - Zichen losing his home, Xingchen plucking out his own eyes - and then their bad parting, it almost feels too good to be true.
It could be an hallucination, some voice in the back of his head tells him. The island hasn't been shy about that in the time he's been here. Except Zichen feels so real. He has to be real.
The request for food and drink snaps Xingchen out of his thoughts and he nods. "Of course, of course. I live not too far from here, just a few houses down, I think..." He hadn't been walking too long when he heard Zichen's voice the first time and that means the distance isn't too great. So he pulls one of his hand free, but gently wraps the other around Zichen's hand, using their connection as a tether should his friend - his friend! - allow it.
He doesn't know what he would do if he were to let go and Zichen disappeared.
"From what I've gathered, the cottage isn't the most hospitable-looking, but it does the trick. A roof overhead and a place to sleep." He doesn't mention that he's either been sleeping on the floor or the couch the entire time. That detail isn't important. "I wish I could bring you somewhere nicer, but beggars can't be choosers, I suppose."
After walking what he thinks is the correct distance, he turns and reaches out to feel for the railing on the few steps leading to the front door, and then he feels the door itself, fingers tracing out the simple make and design of it in order to recognize it. "Yes, this should be it." He opens the door and steps inside.
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It could be an hallucination, some voice in the back of his head tells him. The island hasn't been shy about that in the time he's been here. Except Zichen feels so real. He has to be real.
The request for food and drink snaps Xingchen out of his thoughts and he nods. "Of course, of course. I live not too far from here, just a few houses down, I think..." He hadn't been walking too long when he heard Zichen's voice the first time and that means the distance isn't too great. So he pulls one of his hand free, but gently wraps the other around Zichen's hand, using their connection as a tether should his friend - his friend! - allow it.
He doesn't know what he would do if he were to let go and Zichen disappeared.
"From what I've gathered, the cottage isn't the most hospitable-looking, but it does the trick. A roof overhead and a place to sleep." He doesn't mention that he's either been sleeping on the floor or the couch the entire time. That detail isn't important. "I wish I could bring you somewhere nicer, but beggars can't be choosers, I suppose."
After walking what he thinks is the correct distance, he turns and reaches out to feel for the railing on the few steps leading to the front door, and then he feels the door itself, fingers tracing out the simple make and design of it in order to recognize it. "Yes, this should be it." He opens the door and steps inside.